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big man
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The transverse displacement (in cm) of a taut string carrying a sinusoidalwave is measured at points along its length close compared to the wavelength of the wave, and at time intervals small compared with the period of the wave. The results are: SEE ATTACHMENT
Determine the values a,b,c,d, the speed of and direction of the wave, and the amplitude of the wave.
This is the question that I'm having trouble with and I'd appreciate any help here, but first this is what I was thinking:
To determine a,b,c and d I thought that the ratios of the tranverse displacements would be the same. So you would calculate a as follows:
a = [(8.08)/(10.40)]*5.68
b = [(12.62)/(10.40)]*5.68
c and d would be calculated in a similar manner. However, I'm not entirely sure that it's correct.
As for the speed and direction of the wave I don't really have a clue. For the speed of the wave I was trying to use the particle velocity relationship:
particle velocity = dy/dt = c*(dy/dx)
So c = (dy/dt)*(dx/dy)
The problem here is that with my method for calculating the values of a,b,c and d, the displacements (y) are different over the same time interval, which means that I don't get a consistent value for the particle velocity. Also with how the question is setup you can't find the change in the distance along the string with a change in the transverse displacement.
Any help would be great.
Thanks :)
Edit: OK I fixed the table, but if you can't see the word document just let me know.
Determine the values a,b,c,d, the speed of and direction of the wave, and the amplitude of the wave.
This is the question that I'm having trouble with and I'd appreciate any help here, but first this is what I was thinking:
To determine a,b,c and d I thought that the ratios of the tranverse displacements would be the same. So you would calculate a as follows:
a = [(8.08)/(10.40)]*5.68
b = [(12.62)/(10.40)]*5.68
c and d would be calculated in a similar manner. However, I'm not entirely sure that it's correct.
As for the speed and direction of the wave I don't really have a clue. For the speed of the wave I was trying to use the particle velocity relationship:
particle velocity = dy/dt = c*(dy/dx)
So c = (dy/dt)*(dx/dy)
The problem here is that with my method for calculating the values of a,b,c and d, the displacements (y) are different over the same time interval, which means that I don't get a consistent value for the particle velocity. Also with how the question is setup you can't find the change in the distance along the string with a change in the transverse displacement.
Any help would be great.
Thanks :)
Edit: OK I fixed the table, but if you can't see the word document just let me know.
Attachments
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